Popular Paint Colors Through the Decades

A Look Back at the Popular Paint Colors from the 70s, 80s, and 90s

To really appreciate the styles and trends of 2018, you have to look back at what came before it. We wanted to rewind to the 70s, 80s, and 90s to check out what was going on in paint back then.

Through the decades, we’ve seen a pretty wide and eclectic range of tastes come into the spotlight – everything from bold and beautiful to muted and subdued. With all of the paint colors that have come and gone, there are a few that stand out to define each decade.

Let’s take a look!

Popular Paint Colors in the 1970s

These colors were groovy back in the 1970s, but aren’t quite so popular today. Have you seen any of these decades-old paint jobs hiding out on walls in older homes? The 70s are actually very easy to spot given the affinity for vibrant colors at the time.

It’s interesting to compare the trends then compared with what we’re seeing today. In the 70s, the most stylish kitchens were those that stood out the most – they were painted vibrantly and featured quirky countertops and features.

We’re also seeing an increased demand for cabinets in greys and black – a far cry from some of the colors we’re featuring below to define the 70s.

These five colors were extremely popular 40 years ago. Would you put any of these colors in your home now that we’re in 2018? Do you remember any of them in your childhood home?

Popular Paint Colors in the 1980s

Paint colors that were all the rage back in the 1980s actually don’t look too crazy when you compare them to the bold, aggressive colors of the 1970s. Even so, these colors offer a lot more boldness than most of the colors that we’re using in 2018. Colors from the 1980s were often bright and flashy. Walls were filled with color: anything from pinks, to greens, to yellows.

These days, you might only find such vibrant colors in children’s rooms or in extremely edgy or unusual common spaces. It would certainly be unusual to find them dispersed throughout an entire house like they might have been in the 80s.

These five colors were big back then. If the 70s weren’t for you, maybe these colors are more your style. Do you remember having colors like this in your 1980s home?

Popular Paint Colors in the 1990s

The colors we’re featuring here from the 1990s have very little in common with the 1980s palette. And that was the point! The 90s was known for the wild and wacky. Even neon was popular! But when it comes to popular paint colors, the 90s were surprisingly subdued in many ways. Even though the 5 colors we featured below are still very 1990, the three on the right come much closer to 2018 style than the 70s or 80s palettes did. That said, we haven’t seen much of that tan or red recently!

The 90s color palette is one of the most common of the past decades that’s still easy to find all over the place. Since the 90s are just recent enough, there are homes everywhere that haven’t yet replaced the dated colors that take up the wall space.

These five colors were everywhere in the 90s. Did you paint your home any of these colors? If so, would you do it again?

How About 2018?

If you’d like to bring your home into 2018, we’re here to help. Give us a call today. We’d love to chat about removing the color palettes of the 70s, 80s, 0r 90s, and replacing them with a fresh look that will fit in with the styles of 2018. We’ve been in business for 15 years, and until recently, depended entirely on referrals–doing no marketing at all! That’s how much our customers love us, and we hope that you’ll give us the chance to work with you too. We’d love to partner with you in making an update.